HEALTH CARE
The Public Gives Advice on World Mental Health Day
On 10th October 2021, it was World Mental Health Day with this year’s theme being ‘Mental health in an unequal world’. This day is aimed to educate people and spread awareness about the importance of mental health, as well as how one should never be negligent their mental health. I decided to speak to a few individuals about this particular day and they offered some advice for everyone; whether you are dealing with mental health issues or not, it is likely you will know someone that might find the information helpful, therefore this applies to you as well.
The list below is by no means a substitute for a professional diagnosis or remedy, these are simply guidelines, and if at all in doubt, do seek professional help. Please do keep in mind, if you utilise any of the advice and information provided in this article, make sure that you keep a diary of any effects or changes before and after. Keeping notes of this can be helpful in learning your pattern and searching for signs of improvements, particularly if you have a goal in mind.
- Keep a list of the people closest to you
Having a set of people who you can go to for different things is very important, because it can help you avoid depending on one person completely, and instead would aid you in speaking to different people and having multiple individuals by your side when you need help.
- Accept your emotions
Learn to recognise the emotion you are feeling and accept them as they are, as you do not always have to feel happy or other positive emotions; it is okay to be sad or irritated sometimes, do not beat yourself up for feeling that way. Accept the emotion and recognise how long you feel this for, find the pattern before you can start to change it.
- Journaling
Keeping a journal can support you emotionally when you use at least ten minutes everyday to write down how you felt and what you did, as well as any goals you have for the next day or two. Simple journaling is key, because you do not want to end up complicating the process; also, doodling helps to keep the activity calming and mindful, particularly when you look back at your pages and it does not look like a block of writing.
- Stay active
Everyone points this out, but it is very true and vital for your physical health; regular exercise releases dopamine hormones into your body, which are natural anti-depressants that will help you mentally, or just generally, if life happened to have thrown something in your path.
- Find a hobby and learn new skills
New hobbies can stimulate your brain to actively learn more about it, leading to new skills and a happier outlook on life. Focusing on something other than your work or studies, can be good for general health, because it is vital for each person to indulge themselves in a personal activity that they can enjoy and immerse themselves in.
It may not seem like it but many people around the world have suffered or know of someone who is dealing with a mental health issue, so if you need help, or would like to help, then speaking to the people closest to you is usually the best way to start.
If you are in the UK, speaking to organisations like The Samaritans can be very helpful. Their phone number and email is available down below: For those in other parts of the world, please use a search engine to find helplines and/or websites that offer advice and information on mental health issues, most organisations offer confidential and safe environments for you.
Call 116 123 for help, or write an email to jo@samaritans.org
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